Texas gardeners should plant strawberries in fall rather than wait until spring, according to growing guidance published by AgriLife Today. The approach gives plants time to develop during cooler weather before producing fruit ahead of summer heat.
Strawberries in Texas are grown primarily as an annual crop, with fall planting followed by a spring harvest. Tim Hartmann, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service statewide fruit specialist and assistant professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, recommends choosing varieties suited to that cycle and protecting developing fruit from freezes.
September and October are the preferred planting months, though planting can continue through early December, according to the guidance. Earlier planting allows more growth before spring and can support larger harvests. In southern Texas and mild conditions, fruit production can begin as early as February. Harvest typically ends when heat becomes excessive in late May or June.
Choose plants suited to the growing season
Hartmann recommends Albion or San Andreas among day-neutral varieties, which flower in mild weather regardless of day length. They may produce a few berries in fall before the spring crop. He also recommends Chandler or Camarosa among June-bearing varieties, which flower during short days and produce one large spring harvest.
He advises against everbearing varieties bred for northern gardens. Those plants, often sold at retail nurseries in spring, attempt to produce through summer, but Texas heat cuts their harvest short. Strawberries are self-fruitful, meaning gardeners need only one variety to produce fruit.
Gardeners can ask a local nursery to order plants for fall or use a reputable mail-order or online supplier. If a supplier requires a minimum order, Hartmann suggests sharing an order with neighbors, friends or family.
For beginners, he favors plugs, or potted starter plants, because their existing soil line makes planting depth easier to judge. Bare-root plants may cost less but require more care: A crown planted too high can dry out, while one planted too low can rot.
Prepare a sunny, well-drained bed
Hartmann recommends full sun to support plant growth, fruit production and sugar content. Strawberries do not tolerate soggy soil, so raised beds are an option where soil is heavy or drains slowly.
Weed-block fabric or pine straw around the plants can keep berries from resting on damp soil, where they can rot. Hartmann advises avoiding hay because it can contain herbicide residue that damages plants.
Supply nutrients and water at the roots
Strawberries need substantial nitrogen, according to Hartmann. He recommends applying slow-release fertilizer at planting to supply nitrogen throughout the season with less risk of burning plants. Nitrogen-rich compost is another option. If slow-release fertilizer is not used, he recommends fertilizing weekly, ideally, and testing the soil to identify other nutrient needs.
A soaker hose or drip line delivers water to the roots without wetting leaves and fruit. Overhead sprinklers increase the risk of rot and disease by leaving those surfaces wet. Because strawberry roots are shallow, plants need frequent watering when rainfall is not consistent.
Protect flowers and berries from freezes
The plants themselves tolerate cold, but freezing weather can damage flower buds and fruit. Hartmann recommends frost blankets or floating row covers, ideally supported by small hoops that form low tunnels just above the plants. Multiple layers of frost blanket provide additional protection.
Flowers and fruit can develop before the final frost, particularly during a warm winter, making protection important even when plants appear to be growing well. AgriLife also links to a commercial strawberry field production resource for readers seeking additional growing information.
Based on reporting by Adam Russell for AgriLife Today. Read the original AgriLife Today article: 7 tips for growing strawberries in Texas.
